U.S. News & World Report released its 2026–2027 Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings, and a small East Bay city has quietly taken the crown as the top place to live in California: Dublin.
Just 40 minutes from San Francisco, Dublin made a strong appearance in the report thanks to its mix of high incomes, robust job market, and suburban lifestyle.
Here’s a closer look.
Dublin: the top California pick
Dublin lands at the top of the ranking for California thanks to its connection to the Bay Area economy while offering a more residential feel than San Francisco or Oakland.
With about 71,400 residents and a median age of 37, Dublin’s community is family– and career-focused. The median household income of $211,868 and the unemployment rate of just 3.4% are both far stronger than national averages. That said, the median home value is $1,283,390, resulting in a low Value Index score of 0.9 out of 10.
With an average commute of around 31 minutes and regional access via both I-580 and BART, Dublin also stands out for being commuter-friendly for people who want Bay Area career opportunities without living in the city.
How the study ranked U.S. cities
For the 2026–2027 edition, U.S. News evaluated 250 major U.S. cities using data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Each city received scores in four key categories: quality of life, value (housing and cost of living), job market, and desirability, which includes factors like migration trends and survey responses.
Top national spots went to cities with strong economies and relatively lower costs of living, with the top spot in the nation awarded to Carmel, Indiana. Other high-ranking cities were found in Texas, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri.
While Dublin ranked #1 in California, it placed #119 in the United States out of all 250 cities studied.
🌐 Learn more: U.S. News & World Report: 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2026-2027